President Trump told reporters on Wednesday that after getting to know Iran's leadership, he is no longer certain about proceeding with a deal. The remarks mark a shift from his previous characterization of Iranian leaders as rational, according to reports.
President Trump's latest remarks on Iran, made Wednesday evening, add a new layer to his shifting stance: he now says he is 'not sure' he wants to make a deal after 'getting to know' Iranian leaders. The comment follows two earlier statements earlier Wednesday afternoon, both reported at 16:10 Jerusalem. In the first, Trump said he did not know if a deal would be reached and suggested the US might prevent nukes without one. In the second, he stated that even if a deal is reached, it 'won't hold.' The new remark, citing personal experience, deepens the hesitation.
The thread's evolution shows a rapid succession of statements within hours. The initial version, sourced to Israel Hayom, was followed by Trump's own more definitive assertion that any deal would not hold. Now, Trump introduces a personal rationale, signaling a possible retreat from engagement.
This pattern of inconsistency is not new. As The Zioneer reported, Trump described Iran's leadership as 'smart' and 'far less extreme' on June 17, and on June 18 dismissed critics of his Iran stance as 'fanatics, bad people, or stupid.' On July 1, he said he was dealing with 'more reasonable people in Tehran.' These background reports, spanning weeks, illustrate a president oscillating between praise and skepticism.
It remains unclear what specific interactions with Iranian leaders Trump is referring to, or whether this personal experience will alter the course of ongoing negotiations. The president's position continues to shift, and no deal has been announced.
3 developments
- StrongTrump: I think Iranians want a deal — but we will see
- DevelopingTrump accuses Iranian leadership of lying about nuclear deal, calls them 'crazy'
- StrongTrump says he changed his mind about Iranian leadership, contrasting 'pragmatic' and 'scum'
- DevelopingTrump: 'I believe there will be a regime change in Iran'
Source and signal
- Internal intake